Overland, Shanghai to Kathmandu – Itinerary
This page sets out a detailed itinerary, showing each day’s activity and providing a log of all of the accommodation utilised. The hotels in Shanghai, Nanjing, Xi’an, Xining and Bangkok were all paid for through redeeming loyalty points previously collected via airline and hotel chain loyalty club membership schemes.
In all, the trip lasted 28 days, commencing on 9th April 2019 and finishing on 6th May 2019. It involved travelling some 31,100km (5,100km by train, 1,300km by road and some 24,700km by air) and the land based part of the journey reached a maximum elevation of some 5000m above sea level.
Date | Activity | Distance | Travel time | Overnight Accommodation | |
9th April 2019 | Overnight Flight from London Heathrow to Shanghai via Doha | 5,250km + 6,800km | 6hr 40min + 8hr 30min | Night spent on plane | |
10th April 2019 | Stay in Shanghai | – | – | Four Points by Sheraton, Shanghai, Pudong | |
11th April 2019 | Stay in Shanghai | – | – | Four Points b y Sheraton, Shanghai, Pudong | |
12th April 2019 | Stay in Shanghai | – | – | Four Points by Sheraton, Shanghai, Pudong | |
13th April 2019 | Train from Shanghai to Huangshan | 450km | 2hr 54min | Huangshan Ancient Town Old Street Hostel | |
14th April 2019 | Stay in Huangshan | – | – | Huangshan Ancient Town Old Street Hostel | |
15th April 2019 | Stay in Huangshan | – | – | Huangshan Ancient Town Old Street Hostel | |
16th April 2019 | Train from Huangshan to Nanjing | 750km | 4hr 29min | Novotel Nanjing Central Suning Hotel | |
17th April 2019 | Stay in Nanjing | – | – | Novotel Nanjing Central Suning Hotel | |
18th April 2019 | Stay in Nanjing | – | – | Novotel Nanjing Central Suning Hotel | |
19th April 2019 | Stay in Nanjing | – | – | Novotel Nanjing Central Suning Hotel | |
20th April 2019 | Train from Nanjing to Xi’an | 1,200km | 5hr 34min | Grand Mercure Xi’an Renmin Square | |
21st April 2019 | Stay in Xi’an | – | – | Grand Mercure Xi’an Renmin Square | |
22nd April 2019 | Stay in Xi’an | – | – | Grand Mercure Xi’an Renmin Square | |
23rd April 2019 | Train from Xi’an to Xining | 750km | 5hr 08min | The Sebel XiNing | |
24th April 2019 | Stay in Xining | – | – | The Sebel XiNing | |
25th April 2019 | Leave Xining for Lhasa by Train | 1,950km | 20hr 27min | Overnight Train | |
26th April 2019 | Arrive in Lhasa on Overnight Train from Xining | – | – | Tashitakge hotel (Lhasa) arranged by Explore Tibet | |
27th April 2019 | Stay in Lhasa | – | – | Tashitakge hotel (Lhasa) arranged by Explore Tibet | |
28th April 2019 | Stay in Lhasa | – | – | Tashitakge hotel (Lhasa) arranged by Explore Tibet | |
29th April 2019 | Travel from Lhasa to Sigatse by Tour Van | 350km | 7hr | Manasarovar Hotel (Sigatse) – arranged by Explore Tibet | |
30th April 2019 | Travel from Sigatse to Shelkar by Tour Van | 290km | 6hr | Shelkar – Local hotel arranged by Explore Tibet | |
1st May 2019 | Travel from Shelkar to Rongbuk Monestary by tour Van | 110km | 2hr 30min | Near to Rongbuk Monestery – Tibetan Tent arranged by Explore Tibet | |
2nd May 2019 | Travel from Rongbuk Monestary to Kyirong by Tour Van | 350km | 6hr | Kyirong – Local hotel arranged by Explore Tibet | |
3rd May 2019 | Travel from Kyirong to China / Nepal Border by Tour Van, Travel from China / Nepal Border to Kathmandu by Private Hire Car | 25km + 175km | 1hr + 6hr | Kathmandu Guest House | |
4th May 2019 | Stay in Kathmandu | – | – | Kathmandu Guest House | |
5th May 2019 | Fly from Kathmandu to Bangkok | 2,100km | 3hr 15min | Four Points by Sheraton, Bangkok, Sukhumvit | |
6th May 2019 | Fly from Bangkok to London Heathrow via Doha | 5,300km + 5,250km | 6hr 43min + 6hr 40min |